Limestone Pavers: Uses, Cost, Colors and How They Compare to Travertine
Limestone pavers cost $9.49 per square foot for every color we carry, sit between travertine and marble in density, and handle Mid-Atlantic winters better than either at 2" on a drained base. They are the quiet choice: even in tone, soft in texture, and without the pitting of travertine or the veining of marble. This guide covers what they are, what they cost, where they beat travertine and where they do not, and the honest disadvantages — with real catalog prices rather than industry averages.
What Limestone Pavers Are
Limestone is a sedimentary stone formed from compacted shell and marine sediment, which is why the best outdoor limestones — Lymra, Myra, Symra — carry a faint scattering of fossil fragments and almost no directional pattern. It is denser than travertine, which is limestone's porous cousin, and softer than marble, which is limestone that has been heated and compressed further underground. That middle position is the whole story: it takes a crisper cut than travertine, stays warmer in tone than marble, and reads as one continuous surface across a large deck in a way neither of the others does.
Everything on our limestone pavers page is cut at 1-1/4" (3cm) or 2" (5cm), in tumbled or leather finishes, from 6x12 through 36x36, plus French pattern sets. About ninety of the hundred-odd products are field pavers; a handful are pool coping.
Is Limestone Good for Pavers?
Yes, and for outdoor use specifically it is one of the more forgiving natural stones. Three reasons it works:
- Density. Dense enough to hold a sharp arris on steps and borders, and to survive freeze-thaw at 2" without the water-in-the-pores failure that catches thin travertine.
- Uniformity. Lymra and Symra in particular vary very little piece to piece. For a client who wants a calm, consistent field with no surprises, limestone is the stone to specify. Travertine's charm is its variation; limestone's is the absence of it.
- Grip. Tumbled limestone has a matte, slightly open face that stays sure underfoot when wet, which is why it is a legitimate pool-deck material and not only a patio one.
Where it does not suit: full-sun barefoot decks in the hottest climates, where travertine stays measurably cooler, and outdoor kitchens or bars, where acid etching is a daily risk. More on both below.
Are Limestone Pavers Expensive?
Mid-range, and unusually predictable. Every limestone stone we carry is priced at the same $9.49 per square foot for standard formats, which means within limestone, color is free — Lymra, Myra, Symra, Pistachio, Serpeggiante and Sandy Beige all cost the same.
| Material | Typical $/sq ft | Entry |
|---|---|---|
| Porcelain | $6.16 | $4.93 |
| Travertine | $7.99 | $4.43 |
| Limestone | $9.49 | $6.78 |
| Marble | $10.99 | $4.93 |
So limestone runs about 19% above the travertine median and 14% below classic marble. As with every material, the large formats — 24x36 and 36x36 — price higher per square foot because fewer pieces fit a pallet and each one needs two people to set. Everything from 6x12 through 24x48 prices the same.
Installed, budget roughly $18 to $30 per square foot including labor, with the same caveat as any stone: base preparation, drainage and access move the number more than the material does. Coping, if the project has a pool, adds about double the field price per square foot along the perimeter. The travertine cost guide and marble cost guide walk through the pallet math in full, and the arithmetic is identical for limestone.
Which Is Better, Travertine or Limestone?
They are the same family of stone at two densities, and the choice comes down to three questions.
| Limestone | Travertine | |
|---|---|---|
| Surface | Dense, fine, few voids | Porous, open pits |
| Heat underfoot | Moderate | Coolest |
| Color consistency | Very even | Varies by design |
| Cut edges and steps | Crisp | Softer, pitted |
| Freeze-thaw at 2" | Excellent | Good on a drained base |
| Typical cost | $9.49/sq ft | $7.99/sq ft |
| Best for | Patios, Mid-Atlantic decks, formal layouts | Barefoot pool decks, hot climates |
Will people cross it barefoot in hot sun? Travertine. Its pores trap air and keep the surface cooler than any dense stone of the same color. On a Florida or Texas pool deck this outweighs everything else.
Does the ground freeze? Limestone, at 2". It is dense enough that water does not sit in the stone, and it performs well through Mid-Atlantic and Northeast winters on a drained base. Around Northern Virginia, DC and Maryland we default customers to 2" limestone or 2" travertine for exactly this reason, and limestone is the one we reach for on a patio that is not a pool deck.
Is the look meant to be even or lively? Limestone for even; travertine for lively. A Lymra patio reads as a single warm surface. A tumbled Ivory travertine deck reads as a hundred slightly different pieces, which is what many people want from it.
For the full marble-and-travertine comparison, see marble vs travertine pavers; limestone sits between them on nearly every axis.
What Are the Disadvantages of Limestone Paving?
Four real ones, and they are worth knowing before rather than after.
- It etches. Limestone is calcium carbonate, so acids attack it: citrus, wine, vinegar, and most off-the-shelf deck cleaners. An etch is a dull spot where the polish or texture has been eaten back. It is prevented with a penetrating sealer and pH-neutral cleaners, and it is the reason limestone is a poor choice directly around an outdoor kitchen or bar.
- It needs sealing. Like travertine and marble, limestone takes on oil, tannin and rust stains if left bare. A penetrating sealer after the joints cure, reapplied every two to four years, handles it. The sealing and maintenance guide applies directly.
- It is warmer underfoot than travertine. Not hot the way dark porcelain or concrete gets, but the density that makes it durable also makes it hold more heat than porous stone. Light colors like Lymra help; it is still not the coolest choice for a barefoot deck in full sun.
- Heavy point loads can mark it. It is softer than granite or porcelain. A dropped cast-iron pan or a dragged steel planter can leave a mark that a harder surface would shrug off. On a normal patio this never comes up.
None of those is a reason not to use limestone on a patio or pool deck. All of them are reasons to seal it, clean it properly, and keep the outdoor kitchen on porcelain.
The Limestone Colors
| Stone | Reads as | Finish | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lymra | Lightest, most uniform cream-beige | Tumbled | Large calm fields, light houses |
| Myra (often spelled Mayra) | Warm beige with gentle movement | Tumbled | Warmth without orange tones |
| Symra | Between Lymra and Myra | Tumbled | The safe middle pick |
| Sandy Beige | Pale sand, matte | Leather | Modern square-edge layouts |
| Pistachio | Beige with a faint green-gray cast | Leather | Contemporary, cool-toned houses |
| Serpeggiante (Serpegiante) | Vein-cut, linear tan bands | Leather | Feature bands, plank layouts |
Lymra, Myra and Symra are the workhorses and account for most of the limestone we ship. If you cannot decide between them, order a sample of all three; the difference is a shade of warmth and is far clearer in hand than on a screen. All three land in the beige family.
Tumbled or Leather Finish
Tumbled is the majority of the range: rounded edges, a matte face, good wet grip, and an easy-going slightly aged look that suits both traditional and contemporary work. Leather keeps square edges and a low-sheen textured face, and is the pick for a formal patio or a clean-lined modern layout where you want the joints to read as crisp lines. Lymra, Myra and Symra are tumbled; Sandy Beige, Pistachio and Serpeggiante are leather. The same stone in the two finishes looks noticeably different, so sample the finish you intend to buy.
Sizes: From 24x24 to Large Format
24x24 is the most-searched limestone size and the most-ordered here, and it is a good default: a clean grid, fast to lay, few cuts on a rectangular patio. 16x24 and 12x24 suit a running bond or an ashlar mix and are the sizes to use around a pool where you want more joints for grip and drainage. 6x12 handles paths, borders and soldier courses.
Large-format limestone — 24x36, 24x48 and 36x36 — is where the stone's uniformity pays off most: a big field of Lymra in 24x48 planks reads as one surface with almost no visual noise. Those sizes are mostly cut at 2", weigh enough to be a two-person set, and price higher per square foot than the mid-range formats. The French pattern sets combine four sizes into one repeating module and cut less waste around a freeform pool than any single large format.
Thickness and Installation
1-1/4" for mortar-set work over a sound concrete slab with foot traffic. 2" for sand-set decks, driveways, step treads, and any climate with hard freeze-thaw cycling. This is the one specification that is difficult to correct later, and it decides winter performance more than the choice of material does — how natural stone handles winter covers base build-ups in detail.
Order 10% overage on a rectangular layout and 15% on a freeform pool or a pattern, per the square footage and overage guide, and order the full quantity at once: limestone varies lot to lot, and a later pallet from a different bed will not match. The buyers guide covers base preparation, joint spacing and sealer selection end to end.
Where to Buy Limestone Pavers
Big-box stores carry limited limestone, usually one or two colors in one size at a per-piece price that works out well above quarry-direct. Tile retailers list it by the piece with freight on top. The alternative is buying by the pallet from an importer: a pallet is roughly 100 to 200 square feet depending on size and thickness, delivered curbside on a liftgate truck by LTL freight, at a per-square-foot price that is printed on every product page.
We ship limestone nationwide from Chantilly, Virginia, and the state-by-state supplier directory is the place to start if you are looking for limestone near you. For a delivered figure to your address, request a quote with your zip code and square footage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is limestone good for pavers?
Yes. It is denser than travertine, so it holds crisp edges and handles freeze-thaw well at 2 inch, and it is more even in color than any other natural stone we carry. It needs sealing and pH-neutral cleaning, like travertine and marble, and it is warmer underfoot than travertine in full sun.
Are limestone pavers expensive?
Mid-range: $9.49 per square foot for every color in standard formats, between travertine at about $7.99 and classic marble at $10.99. Large formats cost more per square foot in every material. Installed, roughly $18 to $30 per square foot.
Which is better, travertine or limestone?
Travertine for barefoot comfort in hot sun and a lively, varied look. Limestone for an even surface, crisp cut edges, and freeze-thaw performance at 2 inch. In the Mid-Atlantic, limestone is the patio stone and travertine is the pool-deck stone; in the South, travertine wins both.
What are the disadvantages of limestone paving?
It etches from acids, so it needs sealing and pH-neutral cleaners, and it is a poor choice directly around an outdoor kitchen. It is warmer underfoot than travertine. And it is softer than granite or porcelain, so heavy dropped or dragged objects can mark it. On a sealed patio or pool deck, none of these come up in normal use.
Can limestone pavers be used outdoors in winter?
Yes, at 2 inch thickness on a base that drains. Limestone is dense enough that water does not sit in the stone, which is the failure mode that catches thin travertine. At 1-1/4 inch over a slab that holds water, it will not hold up through repeated hard freezes — and neither will any other natural stone.
What is the difference between Lymra, Myra and Symra?
Three beige limestones from different quarry beds, all priced the same. Lymra is the lightest and most uniform, Myra (also spelled Mayra) is warmer with more movement, and Symra sits between them. Sample all three if you are matching an existing stone or a house color.
Does limestone come in 24x24?
Yes, and it is the most-ordered limestone size. 24x24 is available in Lymra, Myra, Symra and the leather-finish stones at both 1-1/4 inch and 2 inch, priced the same per square foot as the smaller formats.
Next Steps
Browse all limestone pavers, or start from a color: Lymra, Myra or Symra. Compare against travertine pavers and marble pavers, or start from the application: patio, pool deck, pool coping. Order a sample before a pallet, and look at it wet — every limestone here darkens when wet, and Lymra in particular reads a full shade warmer.